Health and Development for 11 Andean Communities

The community of Ttio has been collaborating with DESEA PERU since 2013 as participants of our water and health programs.  Excellent filter usage and active participation in courses have demonstrated the community’s commitment and they will now engage in a larger water project: the construction of a new reservoir system.  In recent years the community has seen changes to their water supply with droughts during the August to October period.  This water scarcity can be attributed to the growing population since the original catchment system was designed to provide water to 8 families; there are now 28.  During these droughts, families are forced to collect water from rivers or irrigation ditches to use for their filters. 

Since July of 2018, DESEA PERU Water Project Coordinator, David Villagarcia Ramirez, and a hydrology engineering consultant have been working with community members to evaluate the state of the old catchment system and surrounding area for new construction.

After an extensive assessment, it was decided that the most cost-effective and sustainable approach for this setting would be to perform maintenance to the already existing water catchment system and connect it to the new one. The new system includes a reservoir with a flow rate of 15 liters per minute (as compared to 6.7 liters per minute in the old system) connected to 3 tanks, each made of hard plastic (Rotoplas) with a 2,500 liter capacity.  These tanks will supply water to pipes connecting all 28 houses, allowing families to have access to water year-round. Should the community continue to grow, space is available to augment this simple type of water reservoir. 

The community has planned for construction to take place during three weeks in mid-October with 54 men contributing with labor including the transport of materials, digging of ditches, and the installation of pipes.  At DESEA PERU we are excited to see the community of Ttio’s great organization and enthusiasm in the implementation of this project and look forward to the time when we see water flowing abundantly to each household.

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In 2017, it was found that 43.5% of Peruvian children 6 – 35 months suffer from anemia.  To combat this alarming rate, the Peruvian government has called on agents from the public and private sector to work together on proper nutrition, iron supplementation, hygiene, and education.  At DESEA, staff is working jointly with local institutions on this issue in the context of our remote project communities.

One component of this work involves the rescuing of a traditional Andean practice: the making of charqui.  Charqui is a type of dehydrated meat that can be stored safely for prolonged periods of time, can be made with few resources (salt, water, string, strainer, pot) and with a variety of organs (blood, spleen, liver) that are especially high in iron.  This practice is ideal for communities where income is scarce, and there is typically no refrigeration.

Last month, DESEA staff and qhalis practiced the making of charqui, promoting the use of blood and the spleen which have enough iron for the adequate daily intake of a child with only one tablespoon!  Other communities in Peru that have rescued this practice have seen anemia disappear and healthy children grow.  Qhalis are sharing their knowledge with their neighbors and DESEA will also be offering charqui-making workshops to community members next month.

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